Pencil



H. EsTERow March 24, 1936( PENCIL Filed June 12, 1935 INVENTOR f/arrjy Je row TTORNEY Patented Mar. y24, 1936 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE Harry Esterow, Newl York, N. Y. Application June 12, 1935, Serial No. 26,116

.1l Claims.

This invention relates to pencils of the socalled "mechanicaP type wherein a lengthy section of writing substance or lead is propelled or repelled by the rotative movement 5 of a spiral member forming part of the lead propelling and repelling mechanism.

The primary object ofthe invention is to provide a pencil of this character in which lengthy sections of lead are used; in which a storage l compartment or chamber for containing a substantial number of these leads is provided, and in which the propelling and repelling movement of the lead is performed by the rotative movement of an actuating member provided at the l rear end of the barrel of the pencil.

As is well known, pencils of the general charl acter of that forming the subject matter of this invention are divided into two classes, namely, those in which the lead-moving mechanism is actuated by rotative movement of the pencil tip portion, and those in which the lead is moved by rotative movement of an extremity provided on the rear end of the barrel of the pencil. Those in the latter class are usually so `constructed that insufficient storage space for spare leads results, while those in the former class are not the most convenient to operate due to the. inability of the fingers to easily and rmly grasp and rotate the smooth conical tip portion of the pencil. Of the two kinds of pencils just described, that in which the lead-propelling mechanism is actuated at the rear end of the pencil body is preferred, primarily for ease in operation, and this despite the fact that such type of pencil has heretofore failed to' provide the convenience of satisfactory lead-storage space.

This invention provides a "rear-actuated pencil of the preferred character, at vthe same time providing a construction in which a lead-storage l 50 of the actuating member and attached closure plug; and Fig. 3 is a. sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawing, 5 indicates the body portion 55 or barrel of the pencil which is in the form (Cl. 1Z0-18) of an elongated tubular member slightly tapered at 6, and internally threaded at its opposite end, as indicated at 1. The barrel may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, hard rubber, Celluloid, Bakelite, or the like. At 8 5 is shown the corneal tip portion of the lead propelling mechanism, and which is provided with a knurled or ribbed part 9 forced into the end portion 6 of the barrel and frictionally held therein. This arrangement is such that the tip 10 portion 8 is non-rotatively held within the barrel 5.

Extending through the barrel 5 is the leadpropelling mechanism; which is of conventional structure, consisting in part, of an outer spiral l5'- member I0 which, when rotated in one direction, propels the lead II out of the end of the tip 8, and when rotated in the opposite direction, retracts the lead. The structure of this lead-propelling mechanism is well known in the art, 20 and consequently no novelty is claimed therefor.

'I'he outer spiral member I0 of the leadpropelling mechanism extends longitudinally through the barrel 5 for the greater part of the length of the barrel, so that a lengthy lead 25 II, approximately as long as the barrel 5, is accommodated in the lead-propelling mechanism.

`The diameter of the spiral member I0 is considerably less than the internal diameter oi.' the barrel 5 so that an annular lead-storage 30 chamber I2 is thus provided between the `spiral member I0 and the inner surface of the barrel 5. To maintain leads in orderly relationship in said storage chamber, a separating device I3 is located therein. The separating device consists 35 of an elongated tube fitting loosely about the spiral member I0 and permitting the spiral member to rotate within it, and provided with spaced longitudinally extending ribs Il (Fig. 3) which provide recesses I5 between them, in which one 40` or more leads I6 are stored.

If desired, the lead separator I3 may be eliminated and the leads may be merely dropped into the storage space I2. The separator is found useful since it keeps theA leads disposed vertically in proper spaced relationship vand avoids the possibility of the same, if accidentally broken, becoming clogged inthe spiral member `.The rear, internally threaded, end .of the barrel 5 is closed by means of a. threaded plug I1 which engages the internal threads 'I on the barrel. Plug'll is mounted free upon a tubular member or bushing I8 which connes the plug between its annular shoulder I9 and its upset 55 end 2l. With this arrangement, the plug I1 is mounted so that it can be manually rotated on the bushing I8, and reversely, the bushing I8 can be rotated within the plug I1 when the plug is threaded into the end of the barrel, as shown in Fig. 1. 'I'he arrangement also prevents movement of bushing I8 longitudinally of the barrel while permitting rotative movement of said bushing.

The bushing I8 has a projecting portion 2I which extends beyond the end of the barrel and has a recess in which an eraser 22 is held. A removable closure cap 23 nts on the part 2| of bushing I8 with a frictional fit to cause the bushing I8 to be rotated when the cap 23 is manually rotated.

At 24 is shown a sleeve tightly tted within the bushing I8 or otherwise secured thereto and which extends inwardly therefrom into the barrel 5. The fit of the sleeve 24 in bushing I8 or the attachment thereto, is such that said bushing and sleeve constitute an integral unit, and the sleeve 24 will rotate with` the bushing I8. The projecting end of the sleeve 24 is slotted at 25 and the slot ts over a pin 25 projecting laterally from the spiral member I0. This pin and slot engagement constitutes a coupling between the sleeve 24 and spiral member l0, so that by rotation of bushing `I8 and attached sleeve 24, the spiral I0 will be rotated to propel or repel the lead II. If desired, the pin and slot connection may be dispensed with, and a frictional connection only had between the spiral member I0 and sleeve 24. f

It will be seen in Fig. 1 that the sleeve 24 surrounds only the upper end portion of the spiral member I0. This sleeve may, if desired, be made of a length sufficient to extend downwardly for a considerable distance to embrace and enclose all or the greater part of the spiral. In such case, the internal diameter of the lead separator I3 is made larger to permit the sleeve 24 to project down within it.

From the foregoing, the operation of the pencil will be readily understood. The lead II located in the propelling mechanism is propelled or repelled by manual rotation of the closure cap 23 at the rear end of the barrel, said cap being frictionally held on bushing I8, rotates the same and the attached sleeve 24. Sleeve 24, being coupled to the spiral member III, either by the pin and slot connection consisting of the elements 25 and 26, or by frictional fit between the sleeve 24 and spiral III, causes the spiral to be rotated, and the lead moved in the desired direction. The spiral I0 freely rotates within the lead separator I3, which remains stationary, and holds a large number of leads, each of which may be of a length equal to the length of the barrel. The lead-holding capacity of the pencil is thus very large. To replenish a consumed lead, the plug I1 is unthreaded from the end of the barrel, and when the plug is drawn away from the barrel, it carries with it the bushing I8, sleeve 24, eraser 22 and cap 23. After one of the leads I5 is 'removed from the storage chamber and placed in the propelling mechanism, the plug I'l is threaded into the end of permit the ready removal of the stored leads, and does not encroach upon the lead-storage space. Therefore ample space is provided to permit the use of lengthy leads both in the propelling mechanism and in the storage chamber. 5 Additionally, the location of the actuating member at the rear end of the barrel provides the desired rear-end feed heretofore not obtained in pencils providing relatively large lead-storing space. l0

What I claim is: 1. A pencil of the character described comprising, a barrel, a lead-moving mechanism located in said barrel and rotative therein, said lead-moving mechanism being spaced from the 15 inner surface of the barrel whereby an annular lead-storing chamber is provided between the lead-moving mechanism and the barrel, an actuating member engaging the lead-moving mechanism and extending out of the rear end of the 2o barrel for manual engagement and rotation, a closure member surrounding the actuating member and mounted freely thereon and preventing movement thereof longitudinally of the barrel, said closure member having means for re- 25 movably engaging the rear end of the barrel.

2. A pencil of the character described comprising, a barrel, a lead-moving mechanism lo- -cated in said barrel and rotative therein, an

actuating member tted over the' lead-moving 30 mechanism and engaging the same to rotate it, a closure member having means for removably engaging the rear end of the barrel, said closure member being freely rotatable on the actuating member but preventing movement of the actuating member longitudinally of the barrel, the actuating member having a part extending beyond the closure member for manual engagement and rotation to rotate the lead-moving mechanism. 40

3. A pencil of the character described comprising, a barrel, a lead-moving mechanism located within said barrel and rotative therein, said lead-moving mechanism being spaced from the inner surface of the barrel whereby an annular lead-storing chamber is provided between the lead-moving mechanism and the barrel, a grooved lead-holder non-rotatively located in said chamber and extending for substantially the y greater portion of the length of the barrel, an actuating member tted over the lead-moving mechanism and extending out of the rear end of the barrel for manual engagement, and means for preventing movement of the actuating member longitudinally of the barrel while permitting rotative movement thereof, said means comprising a closure member threaded into the rear end of the barrel and surrounding the actuating member.

4. A pencilvof the character described com- 00 prising, a tubular barrel, lead-moving mechanism located in said barrel and rotative therein, said mechanism including a spiral member centrally positioned within the barrel and extending therethrough for the greater portion of the length of the barrel, said spiral member being spaced from the inner surface of the barrel whereby an annular lead-storing charnber is provided between said spiral member and the barrel, an elongated grooved tubular leadseparator surrounding the'spiral member and situated in the lead-storing chamber, a closure member for the rear end of the barrel comprisling a plug portion threaded into the end of the barrel and a rotatable part secured to and rotatable within the plug portion, said rotatable part having a portion extending into the barrel within the lead separator and engaging the spiral member, said rotatable part also having a portion projecting beyond the,y end oi'the barrel for manual engagement and rotation.

5. A pencil of the character described comprising, a tubular barrel, lead-propelling means` therein, a closure member comprising a plug threaded into the rear end thereof, a rotatable member passing through and held by the plug and freely rotatable in. said plug,a tubular portion on said rotatable member extending into the barrel ior detachable engagement with apart of the leadpropelling means whereby theplug and rotatable member may bedetached and removed as a unit from the end of the barrel, leaving the leadpropelling lmeans completely therein, a projec- Y tion on the lead-propelling means for detachable engagement with saidtubular portion', and a h projecting end part on said rotatable memberlocated externally or the barrel for manual engagement and rotation. l

' 6. A pencll'of the-character described comprising, a tubular barrel, lead-moving mechanism located in said barrel and rotative therein, said mechanism including a spiral member extending through the barrel for the greaterl portion o! the length of Vthe barrel, said spiral member being spaced from the inner surface of the barrel whereby an annular lead-storing chamber is provided between said spiralfmember and the barrel, an elongated grooved tubular lead-separator substantially as long as the spiral member surrounding the spiral member and situated in the lead-storingchamber, a closure member for the rear en'd o! the barrel comprising a plug portion threaded into the end ofthe barrel and a rotatable part secured in` and rotatable within the plug portion, said rotatable part having a. tubular portion extending intok the barrel within the lead separator and fitting over the end portion of the spiral member, ma rotatable part also having an eraser-holding. part projecting beyond the end of the barrel for manual rotation. 7. In a pencil of the character described, a

barrel, an actuating member tted on the rear end of said barrel, said member comprising a threaded plug received'into the end of the barrel and having a rotatable part mounted within it, a 'portion of said partprojecting within the barrel for detachable engagement with leadpropelling mechanism located therein l removal of the actuating member and plug asa unit without removing any part oi' the lead-propelling mechanism, and another portion of said rotatable part projecting beyond the end of the barrel for manual rotative manipulation.

8. In a pencil oi' the character described, a l

portion on said bushing projecting into .15

barrel and provided with means for eilecting a detachable engagement with the lead-propelling means located therein. j

9. In a pencil of the character described. a barrel, a closure member for the rear end of the same comprising a plug removably fitted on the end of the barrel, a bushing rotatably mounted within said plug and held against axial movement therein, said bushing being provided with a l part projecting beyond the end of the barrel for manual engagement to rotate the bushing, said bushing also-having aslotted part extending within the barrel, and lead-prpelling means located within 'the' barrel and having means fitting the slotted part to cause said lead-propelling means to be rotated upon manual rotary movement of the bushing.

1Q. Ina pencil of the character described a barrel, lead-propelling means located within thek barrel. a closure member-threaded into the rear v'end of the barrel, an actuating member rotatably -mounted within the closure member, and means on one end of the actuating member and located within the barrel for 'coupling with the leadpropelling means to rotate the same upon manual rotation of the actuating' member.-

11.I n.apeni':il of the character described, a barrel, a grooved lead-separator of tubular formation non-rotatively held within the barrel, a lead-propelling mechanism extending through the lead-separator and rotatable within the same, a closure plug removably tted into the rear end of thebarrel, and an actuating member rotatably mounted in the closure plug and having a part extending into the. bai-relandv removably fitted `on the lead-propelling 

